October 4, 2006 - MARKEY STATEMENT ON REPUBLICAN OVERSIGHT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL PAGE PROGRAM

Tuesday, October 3, 2006

The following is a Statement of Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) regarding the GOP oversight of the Congressional Page program:“It is apparent that the inappropriate, unethical and possibly illegal behavior of Republican Rep. Mark Foley, who resigned last Friday, was long ago brought to the attention of numerous Republican leaders in the House who chose to handle it privately as a political matter. The Congressional Page Program is a public trust. It is intended that it be protected by a bipartisan oversight committee which is charged with acting in the best interests of the young men and women who participate. Instead of referring the matter to this committee, where strong action most certainly would have been taken, the Republican leadership hid the facts from their Democratic counterparts and, in doing so, exposed the pages to the risk of exploitation. I fully support Minority Leader Pelosi’s call for an immediate and thorough investigation of this disturbing episode. Those who participated in the decisions to handle this matter on a partisan basis need to give testimony under oath, so that the facts can be known and appropriate action be taken. The future of the Page Program and the public’s trust in Congress depend upon it."